Albatross inspires ocean-skimming drones

THE wandering albatross, long a sign of good luck and source of superstition for sailors, could become a latter-day boon to them as the inspiration for a low-energy scouting aircraft.

The albatross’s ability to fly for thousands of kilometres over oceans with barely a flap of its wings has inspired the concept of a diminutive, ship-launched spotter plane that flies great distances by employing some of the bird’s lift-generating techniques.

The idea is that a drone could help trawler crews spot shoals of fish, or help border patrols spot drug-runners, but with …